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Another staff member at Malibu High School in Blue Downs accused of racist remarks over hair

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Wednesday, 11 September 2019 15:42

Cape Times reports that a second staffer at Malibu High School in Blue Downs faces disciplinary action for alleged discriminatory comments made to pupils over the way they wore their natural hair.

This comes as the school’s caretaker has been suspended pending a disciplinary hearing. Western Cape Education Department (WCED) spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said the school’s hair policy was being reviewed. “The caretaker will face a disciplinary hearing regarding the comments allegedly made. He’s a school governing body appointee and is currently suspended. An investigation into the comments made by one of the teachers is also under way by Labour Relations. The teacher is employed by the WCED,” Hammond indicated. The school made headlines earlier this month when pupils in grades 10 to 12 charged that they were told their “outrageous hair needed to be kept in plaits or tied up”. Nine pupils who protested against the school’s policy and alleged racist comments by the staff members were initially issued with disciplinary notices, which were later withdrawn. On voice recordings staffers can be heard saying “Afros are not allowed in this school”; “it’s just hair, why must you cry?”; “only apes and bears are born with Afros”; “no, that’s not your hair”; “you look outrageous” and “go fix your hair”.

Read the full original of the above report by Francesca Villette at Cape Times